<HTML><FONT FACE=arial,helvetica><HTML><FONT SIZE=3 PTSIZE=12 FAMILY="SERIF" FACE="Palatino Linotype" LANG="0">I recommend either of these two (pasted from my website):</FONT><FONT COLOR="#000000" BACK="#ffffff" style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #ffffff" SIZE=3 PTSIZE=12 FAMILY="SERIF" FACE="Palatino Linotype" LANG="0"><BR>
</FONT><FONT COLOR="#000000" BACK="#ffffff" style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #ffffff" SIZE=2 PTSIZE=10 FAMILY="SANSSERIF" FACE="Arial" LANG="0"><BR>
</FONT><FONT COLOR="#000000" BACK="#ffffff" style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #ffffff" SIZE=2 PTSIZE=10 FAMILY="SANSSERIF" FACE="Arial" LANG="0"><B>Davies and Cole</B> - <I>Walking the Camino de Santiago</I> is an excellent guide that just came out. It weighs 11 oz., describes the route, some of the history, plus some of the flora and fauna. It reads easily, has some sketch maps and elevation profiles of the route. I highly recommend it. Their website is <A HREF="http://www.pilipalapress.com/">www.pilipalapress.com</A> <BR>
<B>John Brierley</B> - <I>A Pilgrim's Guide to the Camino Francés: From St. Jean Pied de Port to Santiago de Compostela</I>. This 15+ oz guide is full color with 33 excellent maps and trail profiles along with route descriptions. Each map represents a typical day. Good beginner info, self help info for the spiritual journey. Get this if you don't get Davies and Cole, or get both and decide yourself. <BR>
</FONT><FONT COLOR="#000000" BACK="#ffffff" style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #ffffff" SIZE=2 PTSIZE=10 FAMILY="SANSSERIF" FACE="Arial" LANG="0"><BR>
Also, do order the Confraternity of St. James <I>Camino Frances. </I>They will air post it and it takes about a week to arrive in the US. The link is on our camino page http://www.backpack45.com/camino2.html<BR>
</FONT><FONT COLOR="#000000" BACK="#ffffff" style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #ffffff" SIZE=2 PTSIZE=10 FAMILY="SANSSERIF" FACE="Arial" LANG="0"><BR>
<BR>
<BR>
</FONT><FONT COLOR="#000000" BACK="#ffffff" style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #ffffff" SIZE=3 PTSIZE=12 FAMILY="SERIF" FACE="Palatino Linotype" LANG="0">Ralph Alcorn<BR>
www.backpack45.com<BR>
Shepherd Canyon Books<BR>
Publisher of We're in the Mountains, Not Over the Hill:<BR>
Tales and Tips From Seasoned Women Backpackers</FONT></HTML>